Missouri transfer EDGE Jahkai Lang commits to SMU

Missouri EDGE Jahkai Lang has committed to SMU out of the NCAA transfer portal. His agents informed On3’s Pete Nakos of his decision on Sunday night.

Lang entered the NCAA transfer portal after spending two seasons in Columbia, Mo. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound defender redshirted during his first season with the Tigers, failing to appear in any games. He was a bit more involved as a second-year player in 2024.

Jahkai Lang recorded 13 tackles, 3.0 tackles for a loss and 3.0 sacks during his first season of playing action in 2024. He played in 12 games for the Tigers.

With his impending move to the transfer portal, Lang will have three years of eligibility remaining. But he’s a strong developmental prospect who has shown flashes playing in a high-level conference. That will certainly garner some interest.

In high school, Lang was named to the all-district team his senior year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association. He was highly thought of.

Prior to his enrollment at Missouri, Jahkai Lang was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 617 overall player in the nation in the 2023 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He also checked in as the No. 55 EDGE prospect in the class and the No. 16 overall player from the state of Missouri, hailing from Troy (MO) Troy Buchanan.

SMU adds another piece from the portal

In addition to Jahkai Lang, SMU has also added some other pieces from the transfer portal in recent days. UCLA transfer running back TJ Harden has signed with SMU, On3’s Pete Nakos has leaned. He led the Bruins in rushing this past season.

Harden spent three years in Westwood, putting up his best numbers in 2023. He totaled 827 yards and eight touchdowns that year while splitting time in the backfield with Carson Steele. After taking over as lead running back in 2024, Harden led UCLA with 506 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Harden, a Los Angeles native, played high school football at Inglewood (Calif.) Inglewood, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1,288 overall player from the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this report.